Part A: Introduction of NRT |
1. Quitting smoking may cause withdrawal symptoms, such as irritability, insomnia, frustration, anxiety, restlessness and craving for cigarettes |
2. Nicotine gum and patch can help relieve these symptoms |
3. Nicotine products are far less dangerous than cigarette smoking |
4. Scientific evidence strongly supports that NRT increases the quit rate and is a safe product. |
Part B: Brief instruction for NRT patch |
1. Apply patch on clean and dry skin on the chest, back, upper arms, hips, etc. |
2. Apply one patch per day and remove before sleep |
3. Change the patch site daily to avoid skin irritation |
Part C: Brief instruction for NRT gum |
1. Steps of chewing gum: slowly chew the gum 10–15 times → the taste gradually becomes stronger → park the gum in the buccal area for about 1–2 minutes → the taste gradually becomes lighter → repeat the above steps |
2. Avoid soft drinks, coffee and fruit juice 15 minutes before chewing |
3. Daily dosage should not be more than 15 pieces |
Part D: Detailed instructions on NRT usage |
1. Minor side effects may appear such as insomnia, skin irritation, jaw ache, hiccups and mouth soreness, but they will disappear after a few days |
2. Make using NRT a daily habit |
3. The standard medication period is 8 weeks. Suggest the participants continue medication after using all samples |
4. Suggest the participants continue to use patch/gum even though feeling able to maintain abstinence |
5. Must reduce or quit smoking during using patch/gum, otherwise it will increase the intake of nicotine |
6. Tell others that you are using NRT, so that they can remind you to use it |
7. Advise the participant to have healthy food intake and exercise to prevent weight gain during quitting |
8. Our counsellor will call the participants to follow-up the usage after 1 week |
9. Ask the participant to send back unused NRT to us in the enclosed envelope |
10. Call the quitline (1833183) for further enquires |